Central Washington hoping to end Penn State's DI dominance
KENNESAW, Ga. – Penn State can capture its fourth consecutive Women’s Division I National Championship and ninth overall Saturday, May 9, at the 2014 USA Rugby College 15s National Championships, but the Central Washington Wildcats are not making the cross-country trip to Fifth Third Bank Stadium at Kennesaw State University to roll over for the Nittany Lions.
The star-studded affair begins on the touch line, with capped Women’s Eagles Kate Daley and Mel Denham leading the fall and spring champions, respectively. Eagle Kate Dowty is also a member of Denham’s coaching staff.
With the team’s season played in the fall, the competition for places in the match-day 23 has given Penn State a training environment capable of preparing the team for Saturday’s title game. The Nittany Lions played Northern Virginia and Philadelphia Women’s Rugby Football Club before foregoing their spring break to tour Spain and the south of France, where they played three matches.
Penn State defeated Norwich in the Fall Championship Final, the second time Daley’s squad downed the Cadets. Other than those two matches and the matchups with the aforementioned club sides, the Nittany Lions did not face much resistance from divisional opponents. In fact, the team took time to qualify for the College 7s National Championships and still managed to stay unbeaten in the spring.
“We’re better at some things now than we were in the fall when we beat Norwich,” Daley said.
The Nittany Lions have Eagles full back Meya Bizer and prop Hope Rogers healthy and ready for another title, but the entire team offers an attacking threat at each position. Daley highlighted Lauren Shissler as one of the best centers in collegiate rugby, a claim that may be challenged by the back line of Central Washington.
Denham joined the Wildcat program days after taking American International College to the 2014 Finals in Stanford, Calif. Though a few Yellow Jackets followed their coach to the northwest, Central Washington had its own crop of talent that has grown with the infusion of varsity status in Ellensburg, Wash.
“All of the girls want to get better, and that’s created a steep learning curve and improvement,” Denham said.
With several All-Americans on the roster, the Wildcats are not starved for talent, shown in patient displays against Life and Brigham Young University at the Spring Championships in Pittsburgh. The team has also scored more than 900 points this season.
Lining up against Penn State’s Shissler is Asinate Serevi. Though she carries the name of father and Fijian rugby legend Waisale Serevi, the Central Washington center is making a name for herself. At five-foot-11, Serevi is the tallest of the Wildcats’ backs and provides an intimidating presence alongside five-foot-three Fina Toetu’u, a fellow All-American.
In the Spring Championships Final against BYU, the Wildcats succumbed to a 15-0 deficit after Serevi was shown a yellow card in the fourth minute. When she returned to the pitch, she initiated the comeback with a try. Central Washington used the calming presence of the freshman to keep the Cougars scoreless for 50 minutes and move the ball away from the opposition’s forwards.
“We have an extremely well-rounded attack,” Denham said. “We’re balanced and that’s our trademark. We can attack anywhere on the field.”
The Wildcats will have their work cut out for them against Penn State, which has set the standard of success for college programs across the country. The Nittany Lions have played in the Women’s Division I National Championship Final in each of the last 10 years, losing thrice to Stanford and once to Army.
Central Washington, in its first year in DI, becomes just the fifth team to break into the Final since 2005.
“Penn State has been a dominant force in rugby for several years, and our vision has been to create a new brand of rugby and set a new standard – one that can compete with Penn State,” Denham said.
“They are similar to us in that they have a well-rounded team. Their forwards are physical and they can play multiple-phase attack. We’re going to have to make sure our work rate is where we want to be, and we’ll have to identify what they are trying to do on attack and shut it down.”
Saturday’s match at Fifth Third Bank Stadium at Kennesaw State University will be streamed live on USA Rugby TV from 2 p.m. ET. Tickets, which include entry to all four matches at the 2015 USA Rugby College 15s National Championships, are still available starting at $20.
2015 USA Rugby College 15s National Championships | Schedule of Events
Women’s DII Final: Notre Dame College v UC Riverside – 10 a.m. ET on USA Rugby TV
Men’s D1AA Final: Central Florida v UC Davis – noon ET on USA Rugby TV
Women’s DI Final: Penn State v Central Washington – 2 p.m. ET on USA Rugby TV
Men’s D1A Final: Life v Saint Mary’s – 4 p.m. ET on ESPN 3
